Will radiation therapy damage normal tissue?

Radiation therapy is designed to treat tumor-containing tissue. Occasionally, normal tissue receives radiation, too. During radiation treatments, some normal tissues are temporarily irritated. This irritation usually resolves shortly after treatment. Rarely, delayed or chronic complications may occur. Please check with your physician for further information.

How many treatments will I be having?

The number of treatments will vary between individual patients and the various diseases being treated. Some patients receive only a single treatment, others as many as 45. The doctor will review the treatment objectives and goals and number of treatments being planned for you.

I have a planned vacation. Can I take time off from my radiation therapy treatments?

Radiation treatments provide the optimal outcome if delivered in succession. Breaks in treatment are not in the patients best interest, unless there is a family crisis or medical reason. Discuss vacation plans with doctor early in planning.

Are you going to burn me with radiation?

Reactions to radiation vary from patient to patient and are dependent upon the site of treatment. The dose given to a given area or depth of tissue determine surface reaction of the skin. Tumors deeper from surface area, like prostate or endometrial, have very little skin reaction. Tumors closer to the skin surface, like larynx or throat, have potential for increased skin reaction.

Are there any restrictions on who I may visit, i.e., do I have to stay away from children or pregnant women?

No, patients receiving external beam radiation as outpatients do not become radioactive.

Do I become radioactive after a treatment? Will I "glow in the dark"?

No – there will be no radioactivity in your body when you leave the treatment room.

How often are my treatments delivered?

Radiation treatments are generally delivered 5 days/week, Monday – Friday, for 2 to 9 weeks, depending on the tumor type and location. Each treatment (from the time you enter to the time you leave the department) takes about 30-60 minutes.

Will I lose my hair?

Radiation has almost all of both its good and bad effects in the area to which it is given. If your head is not being irradiated, you will not lose your hair.

I have heard that radiation can cause cancer. Will I get cancer from this treatment?

There is a very small risk of getting cancer from this treatment. These cancers usually take more than 10 years to develop and occur in the region that was irradiated. Your greatest risk is dying from the cancer you have now; the chance that the radiation will help you is much, much greater than it will hurt you. Unfortunately, all treatments have side effects, and we are actively researching methods of decreasing those side effects.